If you are unsure as to what type of business (i.e. Corporation, Limited Liability Company, Partnership, etc.), you may need to contact an attorney or tax professional, as this office is unable to assist in that determination. For information on types of business entities and tax, treatments consult the IRS, Tennessee Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration or the Business Enterprise Resource Office (BERO) at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

A Certificate of Authority to transact business in Tennessee may be filed online or by paper if your Corporation, Nonprofit Corporation, or Limited Liability Company was formed in another state.  Foreign Limited Liability Partnership and Foreign Limited Partnerships must be filed by paper.  All paper forms can be found on our Business Forms and Fee page.

Yes, if the principal address is in Tennessee, the filed document must be recorded in the Registered of Deeds in the county where the principal office is located.

The incorporator is the person that files the charter of the corporation. The incorporator must be of legal age to enter into contracts. Once the charter has been filed, the incorporator’s function is complete.

Sign up HERE to participate in the mock election.

The point of contact designated for each school will receive instructions on how to report your school’s results through our website.

All Tennessee schools can participate including public, private and home school associations in grades PreK – 12. 

The Secretary of State’s office will provide printable mock ballots. However, schools may conduct a mock election in whatever manner works best for their students.

You can still participate! We encourage students who are part of a homeschool association to conduct a mock election and report their results.

One (1)

Bylaws are the code or rules by which the corporation is run, and explain the conditions and limitations that the corporation must follow in conducting its business.

The board of directors is a group of people who direct and oversee the business activities of the corporation. The board hires officers to conduct the day-to-day operation of the corporation. In the case of small, tightly held corporations, the board of directors and the officers may serve in both capacities.

The minimum is one.  There is no limit on the maximum number of shares authorized.,

Authorized shares are the number of shares of stock that the charter allows the corporation to issues.

1. The correct fee is not paid. The annual report fee for a corporation is $20, and an additional $20 is required if any change is made concerning the registered agent/registered office. The annual report fee for LLCs is $300 minimum up to a maximum of $3000. The fee increases by an additional $50 per member for every member over 6 members up to a maximum of $3,000.
2. An officer is not listed. If the business is a Tennessee for-profit corporation, the corporation must list at least one officer. If the business is a Tennessee nonprofit corporation, a president and secretary or required.
3. The board of directors are not listed, the box indicating that the board is the same as the officers listed is not marked, or the box indicating that the corporation does not have directors is not marked.
4. The annual report is not signed and/or dated.
5. The annual report is not typed or filled out in ink.

• Corporations*
• Limited Liability Companies (LLC’s)*
• Limited Partnerships (LP’s)*
• Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP’s)*
• General Partnerships+ 

*All of the above business entities file formation documents.

+Filings by general partnerships are not for the purpose of forming or maintaining a general partnership in Tennessee. Document filing is for the purpose of providing public notice of basic information about a general partnership, such as the agency authority of its partners, and such filings are optional and voluntary.